Ecballium elaterium

E422201

Ecballium elaterium, commonly known as the squirting cucumber, is a Mediterranean plant species notable for its explosive fruit that forcibly ejects seeds when ripe.

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All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Ecballium elaterium canonical 1

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf cucurbit
flowering plant
plant species
commonName squirting cucumber
contains cucurbitacins
describedBy Carl Linnaeus
dispersalType ballochory
family Cucurbitaceae NERFINISHED
flowerColor yellow
flowerSex unisexual flowers
fruitColor green
fruitLength approximately 3–5 cm
fruitSurface bristly
fruitType berry-like pepo
genus Ecballium ONNED1
growthForm herbaceous perennial
growthHabit prostrate
trailing
habitat dry rocky places
field margins
waste ground
introducedTo North America
Northern Europe NERFINISHED
kingdom Plantae
latinEpithetMeaning driving out
leafArrangement alternate
leafSurface rough
leafType simple leaves
lifeCycle perennial
nativeTo Mediterranean Basin NERFINISHED
North Africa NERFINISHED
Southern Europe ONNED1
Western Asia NERFINISHED
notableFor explosive fruit dehiscence
order Cucurbitales NERFINISHED
pollination insect-pollinated
reproduction by seed
risk gastrointestinal inflammation
potentially fatal poisoning
severe irritation of mucous membranes
seedDispersalMechanism forcible ejection of seeds
stemType succulent
taxonRank species
toxicity poisonous to humans
toxic to livestock
traditionalUse purgative
treatment for sinusitis
usedIn traditional medicine
yearDescribed 1753

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Cucurbitaceae containsTaxon Ecballium elaterium